Hydrogen Systems Integration & Analysis

HyTrans Model: Analyzing the Potential for Stationary Fuel Cells to Augment Hydrogen Availability in the Transition to Hydrogen Vehicles

ORNL researchers have developed the HyTrans model in order to understand how a transition to hydrogen can be achieved efficiently and effectively. Specifically, the tool is used for simulating market transitions to advanced light-duty vehicle systems. The HyTrans market-equilibrium model is able to represent all key interdependent decisions of hydrogen suppliers, vehicle manufacturers, and consumers in the period from 2000 to 2050.

Current research focuses on 1) including internal combustion engine and hydrogen plug-in hybrid vehicles to the model, 2) analyzing the role that combined heat and hydrogen power (CHHP) could play in increasing hydrogen refueling, and 3) determining synergies between stationary and mobile hydrogen fuel cell applications. The HyTrans model has been successfully enhanced to analyze a potentially important synergy between stationary and mobile fuel cell markets, and it has been determined that widespread deployment of CHHP could greatly reduce the problem of hydrogen availability in the early stage (i.e., 2015-2025) of a transition to fuel cell vehicles.